Fishing Report – Tin Can Bay
by Jim Cole, www.tincanbayboathire.com.au, 0408 329 167
The run of fantastic weather we experienced over the Easter continued with a stunner of an ANZAC day long weekend! We still had plenty of holiday makers making the most of it and enjoying an extended break.
Great conditions during the school holidays saw plenty of boats on the water and a number of quality fish being caught. The waterways were busy – glassed out and perfect conditions with spots like Teebar Ledge well patronised.
We have had reports of school mackerel around Ida Island, quality javelin fish coming from the creeks and even the odd late season mangrove jack. As the weather continues to cool down and the water temp drops species like mangrove jack and barramundi will begin to slow down.
There has been some good catches of flathead of late with a 1.7kg specimen being weighed in by one local angler over the Easter weekend. The ledges have been fishing well for a mixed bag of reef fish such as blackall, parrot and cod.
Upside of the cooler water temperatures is species such as snapper will start showing up in greater numbers. The shallow reefs around Tin Can Bay are a great option for those with smaller boats wanting to get amongst a few of these great eating fish. Peak times are often just after first light or around dusk. Whole baits of pilchard or squid working well along with soft plastics and hard bodied lures.
Over the ANZAC long weekend, early morning and late afternoon high tides provided those anglers wanting to chase a few late season jack a chance to head up the creeks while mid-morning low tides are great for families wanting to get out and chase a few whiting. Live yabbies or worms are often the best bait for these fish whilst using a small number 6 Mustad bloodworm hook will account for a more consistent hook up.
Low tides around midday are a great time to target species such as flathead and whiting on the sand flats. Fishing the drains where the water is running off the sand flats about an hour or so before the bottom of the tide. Casting upstream and working soft plastics with the tide or trolling hard bodied lures such as Live Lures Micro Mullet or Sebile Koolie Minnows along the edge of the channels are a couple of my preferred methods for chasing flathead. For whiting try using worms or live yabbies fishing similar areas on the run out tide or over yabbie banks on the incoming tide.
For more information, stop past our store located at 6/6 Scullett Drive in Tin Can Bay. We also have a range of hire boats including Hobie kayaks to suit everyone licensed or unlicensed.
Keep the entries coming in for our fish of the month competition for your chance to win a $50 voucher to spend in store. Have a great weekend and be safe on the water.
